Photo-chromic doll playsets, photo-chromic toy vehicle playsets and activation light projectors

ABSTRACT

In one embodiment of the invention, photo-chromic doll playsets are disclosed. A photo-chromic doll playset includes a doll having a substrate; a photo-chromic material applied to the substrate; a light pen to selectively apply a tightly focused activating light output on the photo-chromic material to create narrow lines of activated photo-chromic material. In response to the activating light, the activated photo-chromic material temporarily transforms from a first color to a second color for a period of time before gradually decaying back to the first color.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This non-provisional United States (U.S.) patent application claims thebenefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/710,785 filed onAug. 24, 2005 by inventors Chris Schmidt, et al., entitled Photo-ChromicToys.

FIELD

The embodiments of the invention relate generally to drawing toys. Moreparticularly, the embodiments of the invention relate to light drawingtoys.

BACKGROUND

A photo-chromic material is a material that is initially transparent ortranslucent. The photo-chromic material can be temporarily transformedinto being a reflective color by the application of an appropriatespectrum of electromagnetic radiation or light. That is, upontransformation, photo-chromic materials reflect background light and arenot transparent or translucent for a period of time.

In contrast, phosphorescent materials, sometimes referred to asglow-in-the-dark materials, absorb electromagnetic radiation to becomecharged or activated. Upon removal of the electromagnetic radiationsource, phosphorescent materials do not reflect but emit a light oflimited intensity light that decays rather quickly. The light emitted byphosphorescent materials is typically visible in complete darkness orlow background light conditions for a very limited period of time.

The chemical makeup of photo-chromic materials is well known. Forexample, photo-chromic materials and compounds may be formed out ofnaphtacenequinones and derivatives thereof. It is known that variouscolors may be achieved by using derivatives of naphtacenequinones as isdescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,036,805 by Tsujimoto et al. which isincorporated herein by reference.

While the chemical makeup of photo-chromic materials and compounds arewell known, the application of them to useful products has been ratherlimited.

One industrial use of photo-chromic materials is to store data in threedimensions in a solid state optical memory or an optical disk of a diskdrive to try and increase data density within a given volume of space.

While industrial applications of photo-chromic materials are important,it is also desirable to use photo-chromic materials in other ways.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The embodiments of the invention are summarized by the claims thatfollow below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

A is a block diagram of a photo-chromic toy.

FIG. 1B is a cross-section of a portion of a photo-chromic toy.

FIG. 1C is a cross-section of differing portion of a photo-chromic toy.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of swatches of photo-chromic ink illustrating theirvarious color when activated and how it may be applied.

FIGS. 3A-3B are perspective views of photo-chromic dolls or charactersand accessories therefor.

FIG. 4 are views of an exemplary photo-chromic toy vehicle andaccessories therefor.

FIG. 5 are views of an exemplary photo-chromic drawing toy and lightpen.

FIG. 6A illustrates multiple colors of photo-chromic ink arranged in arainbow pattern over a substrate.

FIG. 6B illustrates a range of multiple colors of activatedphoto-chromic ink arranged in a parallel linear pattern over asubstrate.

FIG. 6C illustrates a light pen activating multiple colors ofphoto-chromic ink illustrated in FIG. 6B.

FIG. 6D illustrates stacking multiple layers of photo-chromic ink over asubstrate to achieve a varying color effect.

FIG. 7A illustrates a rollable photo-chromic drawing board.

FIG. 7B illustrates a wall mountable photo-chromic drawing board.

FIG. 8A illustrates a photo-chromic drawing page.

FIG. 8B illustrates a photo-chromic drawing page of FIG. 8A with a clearsubstrate to doodle or sketch over artwork.

FIG. 8C illustrates a patterned photo-chromic doodle starter or coloringpage with visible printed lines.

FIG. 8D illustrates a patterned photo-chromic doodle or coloring page.

FIG. 9A illustrates a drawing table with a rotatable patternedmulticolor photo-chromic disk.

FIG. 9B illustrates using a light pen to activate the rotatingphoto-chromic disk of FIG. 9B.

FIG. 9C illustrates a side view of another embodiment of a drawing tablewith a rotatable disk.

FIG. 10A illustrates a double ended light pen with differing lightpatterns at each end.

FIG. 10B illustrates an magnified cross-sectional view of one end of thelight pen that provides a point light source of activation light.

FIG. 11A illustrates a set of light pens in a row, each providing adifferent line width to vary the area of activation of photo-chromicmaterial.

FIG. 11B illustrates exemplary line widths that may be provided by theset of light pens illustrated in FIG. 11A.

FIG. 11C illustrates exemplary openings or slits in the respectivenozzles at the end of each light pen to generate the light patternsillustrated in FIG. 11B.

FIG. 12A illustrates a bottom view of a light wand having multipleactivating light sources in parallel together.

FIG. 12B illustrates a side view of the light wand of FIG. 12A beingused over a photo-chromic page and stencil.

FIG. 13 illustrates a top view of a light paint brush and the activatedphoto-chromic pattern that it can make over a photo-chromic page.

FIG. 14A illustrates a side view of a light spray can and the activatedphoto-chromic pattern that it can make over a photo-chromic page.

FIG. 14B illustrates a cross-sectional view of the light spray nozzleincluding a light pipe or fiber optic cable.

FIG. 14C illustrates a cross-sectional view of the light spray nozzlewithout a light pipe or fiber optic cable.

FIG. 15 illustrates a perspective view of a hand held flash activatorthat may be used to activate photo-chromic materials.

FIG. 16A illustrates an electronic light stencil to activate an area ofphoto-chromic material on a page.

FIG. 16B illustrates a stencil light to activate an area ofphoto-chromic material on a page.

FIG. 16C illustrates a magnified cross-sectional view of the stencilhousing of the stencil light of FIG. 16B.

FIG. 17A illustrates an activation box.

FIG. 17B illustrates an open overhead light table.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description of the embodiments of theinvention, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide athorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will beobvious to one skilled in the art that the embodiments of the inventionmay be practiced without these specific details. In other instances wellknown methods, procedures, components, circuits, systems, and subsystemshave not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscureaspects of the embodiments of the invention.

The embodiments of the invention includes methods, apparatus andplay-sets for photo-chromic toys or playthings for children.

Photo-Chromic Toys

Referring now to FIG. 1A, a block diagram of a photo-chromic toy 100 isillustrated. The photo-chromic toy 100 includes a photo-chromic materialsuch as a photo-chromic ink or paint, plastic, or dye. The photo-chromicmaterial may be supplied in a material of the toy or applied to asurface of the toy at the factory or it may be applied by a user to thetoy or the surface. The photo-chromic material may be activated invarious ways with various devices.

A photo-chromic ink or paint has a finely divided photo-chromic solidsuspended in an ink-like or paint-like carrier. The photo-chromic ink orpaint is functionally more flexible in that it may be applied by amanufacturer at the factory or by a user outside the factory. In atleast one embodiment of the invention, the photo-chromic ink or paint isin liquid or colloidal form so that it can be applied to a toy or awriting or drawing surface. In other embodiments of the invention, thephoto-chromic ink or paint is dried into a solid on a surface of thetoy. In other embodiments of the invention, photo-chromic solids aremixed in with a plastic and molded into the toy at the factory. In otherembodiments of the invention, a surface of the toy is dyed at thefactory with a photo-chromic dye.

The photo-chromic toy 100 may further include a three dimensionalstructure that is solid or hollow. The structure or portion thereof ofthe toy may provide a substrate with a surface to which thephoto-chromic material may be applied.

The photo-chromic ink or paint is generally activated by light orelectromagnetic radiation substantially in or near the purple, violet,or ultraviolet (UV) spectrum. Sunlight can readily activate thephoto-chromic ink or paint. Typical white indoor lighting fromincandescent or fluorescent lights doesn't have sufficient intensity inthe wavelength range of light or electromagnetic radiation to activatephoto-chromic ink or paint. Thus when indoors or shaded from the sun, asource of purple, violet, or ultraviolet light may be used to activatethe photo-chromic ink or paint. A light with a wavelength within thespectrum of purple, violet, and ultraviolet light that activatesphoto-chromic material may be collectively referred to herein as anactivating light. For example, a black light that provides some UVradiation may be used indoors to activate the photo-chromic ink orpaint.

In other embodiments, a light pen, a light sprayer, a light wand, or alight marker may be used to activate a smaller area of photo-chromic inkor paint. FIG. 1A illustrates a light pen, a light sprayer, a lightwand, or a light marker 110 that may be used to provide an activatinglight to a smaller area of photo-chromic ink or paint on thephoto-chromic toy. For convenience, the light pen, light sprayer, lightwand, and light marker may be collectively referred to as light pen 110.

The light pen 110 includes a housing 111 to collectively hold together alight transducer 112, a switch 114, and one or more batteries 116 as aportable unit. The switch 114 switches the power supplied by thebatteries 116 to the light transducer 112 ON and OFF to periodicallygenerate the electromagnetic radiation or light 118. When ON, the lighttransducer 112 converts electrical current into the activating light inthe range of wavelengths to activate photo-chromic material. The lighttransducer 112 may be a light bulb, a flash bulb, or a light emittingdiode (LED) that can generate the activating light. The structure of thehousing 111 may take on different ornamental shapes depending upon thecontext of the photo-chromic toy 100. Collectively, the light pen 110and photo-chromic toy 100 may form a playset.

In FIG. 1A, a stencil 120 may further be used to mask out portions ofthe activating light to form an activated pattern in the photo-chromicmaterial. The stencil 120 includes opaque areas 122 to block theactivating light and transparent areas 124 to allow the activating lightthrough to the photo-chromic material. The transparent areas 124 maysimply be openings in the stencil to allow the activating light through.Collectively, the light pen 110, photo-chromic toy 100 and stencil 120may form another playset.

Referring now to FIG. 1B, a cross-section of a portion of aphoto-chromic toy 100A is illustrated. The photo-chromic toy 100Aincludes a substrate 102 with a photo-chromic ink or paint layer 104applied across a whole portion of a surface 103 of the substrate 102.Typically, the surface 103 is the outer surface of the substrate 102 andtoy 100A so that the photo-chromic ink or paint is visible to the eye.The substrate 102 is a solid and may be formed out of plastics, vinyl,papers, woods, metals, combinations thereof, or other known solids.

Referring now to FIG. 1C, a cross-section of another portion of aphoto-chromic toy 100B is illustrated. The photo-chromic toy 100Bincludes the substrate 102 with a photo-chromic ink or paint 104A-104Dapplied at portions of the surface 103 of the substrate 102 in contrastto be applied over the whole portion as in FIG. 1B. The photo-chromicink or paint 104A-104D may be applied to selected portions of thesurface 103 of the substrate 102 through the use of masking techniquessuch as with a mask, for example.

Generally, the photo-chromic ink or paint may be applied to surfaces ofsubstrates similar to how inks and paints are applied to surfaces. Theshape, width, and thickness of the photo-chromic ink or paint may varydepending upon how it is applied to the surface 103 of the substrate102. The photo-chromic ink or paint 104A is thicker than thephoto-chromic ink or paint 104D. The photo-chromic ink or paint 104A iswider than the photo-chromic ink or paint 104B. The photo-chromic ink orpaint 104A-104B are more sharply defined at the edges than thephoto-chromic ink or paint 104C-104D which are more rounded at theedges.

Referring now to FIG. 2, exemplary methods as to how the photo-chromicink or paint may be applied to surfaces of a substrate and the variouscolors to which photo-chromic ink or paint may change are illustrated.The photo-chromic ink or paint may be applied to a substrate by silkscreening as illustrated by the oval 200. Alternatively, thephoto-chromic ink or paint may be applied to a substrate by offsetprinting as illustrated by the ovals 202. Alternatively, thephoto-chromic ink or paint may be applied to a substrate by beingsprayed on as illustrated by the brush-strokes or swatches 204.

As discussed previously, the photo-chromic ink or paint is generallyactivated by light or electromagnetic radiation substantially in or nearthe purple, violet, or ultraviolet (UV) spectrum. After being activated,the photo-chromic ink or paint appears to change from beingsubstantially transparent or clear to a color. Alternatively, the colorof the photo-chromic ink or paint may appear to change in intensity dueto increased reflectivity. Alternatively, the photo-chromic ink or paintmay appear to change colors, such as from a substantially white color toa different color other than white. After activation, the change tocolor, intensity, or different color may persist for approximatelythirty seconds, more or less. The persistence of change in thephoto-chromic ink or paint may last shorter or longer depending how itsactivated and for what length of time. Without further activation, thechange in the photo-chromic ink or paint may gradually decay back to aninactivated state.

When not activated, in one embodiment of the invention the photo-chromicink or paint may be substantially transparent so that it is clear andshows the color of the surface 103 of the substrate 102, as isillustrated by the oval 200. For example, the white color of the surfaceof the paper substrate shows through the oval 200 of the photo-chromicink or paint. The surface of the substrate may include indicia or otherprinting underneath the photo-chromic ink or paint that is revealed whennot activated but colored when activated.

When not activated, in another embodiment of the invention thephoto-chromic ink or paint may almost be clear or transparent, somewhattranslucent, having a hint of color to distort the color of the surface103 of the substrate 102, as is illustrated by the ovals 202A-202J. Oval202A has a hint of charcoal grey color. Oval 202B has a hint of bluecolor. Oval 202C has a hint of red color. Oval 202D has a hint of orangecolor. Oval 202E has a hint of green color. Oval 202F has a hint ofmagenta color. Oval 202G has a hint of yellow color. Oval 202H has ahint of teal color. Oval 202I has a hint of purple color. Oval 202J hasa hint of brown color.

When activated, the intensity of the color of the ovals 202A-202J mayincrease as illustrated by the activated photo-chromic ink or paint ofthe brush-strokes or swatches 204A-204J, respectively. Brush-stroke 204Ais a charcoal grey color. Brush-stroke 204B is a blue color.Brush-stroke 204C is a red color. Brush-stroke 204D is a orange color.Brush-stroke 204E is a green color. Brush-stroke 204F is a magentacolor. Brush-stroke 204G is a yellow color. Brush-stroke 204H is a tealcolor. Brush-stroke 204I is a purple color. Brush-stroke 204J is a browncolor.

Additionally, the colors of the photo-chromic ink or paint may belayered on top of one another. A plurality of lines of different colorsof the photo-chromic ink or paint may be placed side by side so that arainbow of colors may be observed by a user when activated.

The photo-chromic ink or paint may be applied to various types ofchildren's toys and playthings. The photo-chromic ink or paint may alsobe activated in different ways by differing light devices. Templates ormasks may be used that have opaque portions to shade areas of thephoto-chromic ink or paint from light and activation and open areasthrough which light can pass so that colored patterns or shapes ofactivated photo-chromic areas appear visible.

One type of photo-chromic toy is a doll or character. FIGS. 3A-3Billustrate dolls or characters 300A-300B. In FIG. 3A, a user may use thelight pen 110 to activate the photo-chromic material that is applied toa doll or characters clothing such as a shirt or blouse 302; jacket orvest 303; and dress, skirt, or pants 304. In which case, the substratemay be formed out of a fabric. FIG. 3A illustrates an area 309 of pants304 on the doll or character 300A being activated by the light pen 110.Other areas of photo-chromic material may be activated by moving thelight pen 110 along other areas of clothing on the doll or character300A as illustrated by the arrows. Different colors of photo-chromicmaterial may be activated on the clothing of the doll or character.Photo-chromic material may also be applied to the accessories for a dollor character such as footwear or shoes 306; and headwear or hats 307,for example.

A light pen 110 with a tightly focused spot activating light may allow achild to doodle or scribble narrow line widths in the photo-chromicmaterial on the clothing of the doll or character 300A.

FIG. 3B illustrates a doll or character 300B with photo-chromic materialapplied to body-parts, such as the face 310, hands 312, and the hair314. The light pen 310 can activate areas 319 of photo-chromic materialapplied to the face 310 as illustrated in FIG. 3B. A child user may usethe light pen 110 to emulate the application of make-up to the face 310or lipstick to the lips 311, for example. With an appropriate color, achild user may use the light pen 110 to make the face 310 blush, forexample. Alternatively, a user may use a light pen 110 with a narrowspot beam to show freckles on the face 310 or doodle or scribble on thehands 312 of the doll or character, for example.

In another embodiment of the invention, the photo-chromic material ispatterned into a mark or tattoo when applied onto the doll or character300A-300B. A pattern of photo-chromic material, photo-chromic ink104A-104D, was described previously with reference to FIG. 1C. The lightpen 110 can activate the photo-chromic material to make the pattern ofthe mark or tattoo on the doll or character 300A-300B visible.Alternatively, a template or stencil with a pattern may be used to allowa pattern of light to activate a pattern within the photo-chromicmaterial to make a mark or tattoo on the doll or character 300A-300Bvisible. A stencil 120 having a pattern of opaque areas or openings 124was described previously with reference to FIG. 1A. In either case, thelight pen emulates spraying tattoos onto a doll or character.

Note that the function of the doll or characters 300A-300B may becombined into a single doll or character that has photo-chromic materialapplied to both body parts and clothing so that either or both may beactivated by a light pen. While the doll or characters 300A-300B areillustrated as being human beings, animal characters, fictionalcharacters may have photo-chromic material applied to their bodies andor clothing that can be similarly activated.

Referring to FIG. 4, views of an exemplary photo-chromic toy vehicleplay set 400 are illustrated. The play set 400 includes a photo-chromictoy vehicle 402, such as a car, plane boat, truck, or other type ofvehicle. The toy vehicle 402 includes a portion 404 that has aphoto-chromic material, such as the tank as illustrated in FIG. 4. Otherportions or the vehicle in its entirety may include a photo-chromicmaterial.

The play set may further include one or more templates or stencils 406.The stencils 406 include opaque portions 407 and transparent or openportions 408 to activate the photo-chromic material. The transparent oropen portions 408 may depict anything, including a design or words, suchas “FUEL” as illustrated. The stencil is aligned with the photochromicportion 404 of the vehicle and place close to the surface thereof. Anactivating light is shined through the transparent or open portions 408of the stencil 406 to activate an activated portion 404′ on the vehicle402 as illustrated.

The playset 400 may further include a light pen 110′,110″ and/or a lightbox 410. The light pen 110′ may be ornamental shaped like a spray paintgun 110′ that may be used in an auto paint shop. In this case, the lightpen 110′ emulates the vehicle being painted. The light pen 110′ can beused like a “paint sprayer” to spray vehicles different colors or to usetemplates to spray images on a toy vehicle. Alternatively, the light pen110″ may be shaped like a car wash gun 110″ that may be used in a selfserve car wash. Using the car wash gun 110″ emulates washing the vehicleto clear away the dirt so that the message underneath becomes visible.The switch 114 may be a finger trigger type switch. In any case, thelight pen 110′,110″ generates an activating light 118 in response toturning ON the switch 114.

The playset 400 may further include a light box 410, in addition to alight pen or as a substitute. The light box 410 may be hollow andincluding an opening 411 in front to roll the vehicle 402 into the lightbox 410. The light box includes a light bulb 412 and a switch 414coupled to a power source (e.g., DC, AC, or battery). The light bulb 412generates the activating light, such as a UV light, in response to theswitch in order to flood the inside of the hollow light box. In thismanner, all of the photo-chromic portions of the vehicle 402 may beactivated at the same time. Alternatively, the stencils 406 may be usedto form a pattern in the photochromic portions of the toy vehicle 402while in the light box. The light box 410 may include ornamentation todepict it as a paint booth at an auto paint shop or a car wash.

Drawing Apparatus, Playsets, and Kits

Referring now to FIG. 5, a top perspective view of an exemplaryphoto-chromic drawing toy 500 is illustrated. The toy 500 includes aphoto-chromic drawing tablet 501 and a light pen 510 as illustrated. Thetablet 501 includes a frame or housing 502 with a photo-chromic drawingslate 504 mounted therein. The slate 504 may include a rigid substrate102 with one or more layers of photo-chromic material 104,604A-604N,such as illustrated in FIGS. 1B and 6D.

The photo-chromic material is preferably photo-chromic inks that can beoffset printed, flex printed or silk screened with any neutralbackground color desired. While FIG. 5 illustrates using a singlephoto-chromic color, a substrate may be printed using multiple colors inany pattern desirable so that a rainbow color effect may occur when auser doodles and draws. As discussed further below with reference toFIGS. 6B-6C, each different background ink generates a specific colordoodle line when the light pen shines its activating light on thebackground ink.

The light pen 510 may be a dual light pen having two light sources ateach end. A first light source 511 provides a point light source focusedto within an inch of a page. The first light source 511 is useful todoodle lines. FIG. 5 illustrates an activated photo-chromic region 504′depicting a smiling face doodled onto the slate 504 using the firstlight source 511. A second light source 512 generates a wide angle oflight to provide a “spray paint” like effect on the photo-chromic slate504. Templates and stencils are better supported using the second lightsource with the “spray paint” like effect. The light pen 510 furtherincludes a first light switch 514A to turn ON and OFF the first lightsource 511. The light pen 510 further includes a second light switch514B to turn ON and OFF the second light source 512. Additional detailsof the light pen 510 are described below with reference to FIGS.10A-10B.

While the drawing tablet is illustrated as being shaped flat, it cantake on any other shape. For example, instead of a frame and a tablet,the drawing surface may be a three dimensional sphere or cube. The cubeor sphere may be mounted to a base instead of mounted within a frame.

Referring now to FIG. 6A, in a photo-chromic toy 600A a plurality ofphoto-chromic ink colors may be arranged in a variety of patterns over asurface 103 of a substrate 102, including a rainbow pattern or arches inparallel to each other as illustrated. For example, a first arch patternof photo-chromic ink 604A may be purple in color when activated. Asecond arch pattern of photo-chromic ink 604B may be blue in color whenactivated. A third arch pattern of photo-chromic ink 604C may be greenin color when activated. An Nth arch pattern of photo-chromic ink 604Nmay be red in color when activated.

Referring now to FIG. 6B, in a photochromic toy 600B a range 614 of aplurality of colors of activated photo-chromic inks is illustratedarranged in a parallel linear pattern over a substrate 102. Thesubstrate 102 may be any size including the size of a page, such as 8.5″by 11″ for example. After the persistence time of color in thephoto-chromic inks, the range 614 of colors may become clear to revealthe color of the substrate. In this manner with multi-colorphoto-chromics applied on a substrate, when light activated a rainbow ofcolors or any subset of a rainbow may be provided.

Referring now to FIG. 6C, a light pen 110 selectively activates portionsof the photo-chromic ink on the substrate 102 of the toy 600Billustrated in FIG. 6B. As the light pen 110 is moved perpendicular tothe pattern of color inks, different colors are activated asillustrated. For example, at one end 624 a red color may be activated ina photo-chromic ink while a purple color may be activated in thephoto-chromic ink at the second end 626 as the light pen 110 movesacross the page.

Referring now to FIG. 6D, multiple layers of photo-chromic ink may beapplied over a substrate of a photochromic toy 600D. A firstphotochromic ink layer 634A is applied onto the substrate 102. A secondfirst photo-chromic ink layer 634B is then applied onto the firstphoto-chromic ink layer 634A and so on and so forth up to the Nthphotochromic ink layer 634N. In this case, the upper layers (e.g.,photochromic ink layers 634B-634N) are preferably transparent in theinactive state so that the lower layers (e.g., photochromic ink layer634A). The multiple layers of photo-chromic ink 634A-634N may also beshaped into a pattern on the substrate 102.

Referring now to FIG. 7A, a rollable photo-chromic drawing board 700Aand light marker 110″″ are illustrated. The drawing board 700A mimics adry marker white board. The drawing board 700A includes a stand 702 withrollers 704. The drawing board 700A further includes a large substrate102 with a photo-chromic layer of ink 104 on the substrate. Thesubstrate 102 may have a surface area similar to articles known as whiteboards or dry-erase boards. The large substrate 102 may be rigidlyformed to be supported by a frame in the stand.

As the surface area of the photo-chromic board 700A is relatively large,the area the big light marker 110″″ activates at one time is large. Thebig light marker 110″″ may include one or more light sources to providethe larger area of active light output to provide wider or broader penstroke over the photo-chromic board 700A.

Referring now to FIG. 7B, a wall mountable photo-chromic drawing board700B is illustrated as being mounted to a wall 710. The drawing board700B includes a large substrate 102 with a photo-chromic layer of ink104 on the substrate. Instead of being rigid, the substrate 102 of thedrawing board 700B may be flexible so that it may be rolled up into atube for shipping.

The big light marker 110″″ having a wide line width is illustrated asdrawing a large happy face pattern in the area of activatedphoto-chromic ink 704′. However, other types of light pens may be usedto draw on the large photo-chromic boards 700A-700B.

Referring now to FIG. 8A, a photo-chromic drawing page 800A isillustrated. The photo-chromic drawing page 800A includes a substrateand a photo-chromic material such as photo-chromic ink 104 applied oversubstantially all or a large portion of the substrate 102. The substrate102 may be flexible or rigid depending upon the material used to formit.

The substrate 102 may be formed out of any solid material to which thephoto-chromic material or photo-chromic ink 104 adheres. The substrate102 may be formed out of wood, plastic, metal, or other solid material.Different binders may be provided in the photo-chromic material or ink104 so that is adheres to different surfaces. To apply multiple layers,photo-chromic ink may adhere to a lower level of photo-chromic ink.

Referring now to FIG. 8B, in one embodiment of the invention, thesubstrate 102 is a clear substrate, formed out of a clear acetatematerial for example, with an inactive transparent photo-chromic ink 104applied on a top surface so that objects underneath the page 800A may beclearly visible. FIG. 8B illustrates a photo-chromic drawing page ofFIG. 8A with a clear substrate over artwork 801. A user may to doodle orsketch onto the page 800A over the artwork 801 using the light pen 110without harm to the artwork 801. The clear photo-chromic drawing pagemay be referred to as a photo-chromic doodling page with the light penbeing used to doodle on top of pre-existing art.

While the photo-chromic material may be applied over large portions ofthe page, it may also be patterned to specific areas.

Referring now to FIG. 8C, a patterned photo-chromic doodle starter orcoloring page 800B is illustrated. The page 800B includes visibleprinted lines or printed areas 802 formed out of standard ink andphoto-chromic lines or areas 804 printed using a photo-chromic ink onthe substrate 102. The light pen 110 may then be used to shine anactivating light onto the photo-chromic lines or areas 804 so that theybecome temporarily visible on the page 800B. In the doodle starter 800Ba starting image is printed on paper or other substrate and the childcan then use a light pen to activate photo-chromic material also printedon the page to add further images to the starting image.

Referring now to FIG. 8D, a patterned photo-chromic doodle or coloringpage 800D is illustrated. The page 800D is without ordinary visibleprinted lines or printed areas so that an image is not visible until thephoto-chromic material is activated. The page 800D includes aphoto-chromic ink 804C in a first color, a second photo-chromic ink area804D of a second color, a third photo-chromic ink area 804E of a thirdcolor, a fourth photo-chromic ink area 804F of a fourth color, and afifth photo-chromic ink area 804G of a fifth color. The photo-chromicink areas 804C-804G may be applied in a pattern on the page to reveal adesign when activated, such as a pumpkin as illustrated.

Referring now to FIG. 9A, a drawing table 900 with a rotatable patternedmulticolor photo-chromic disk 902 is illustrated. The photo-chromic disk902 has N concentric rings 904A-904N of photo-chromic ink applied to acircular shaped substrate 102′. Each of the N rings 904A-904N may be adifferent shade or hue of color. The N rings may also be N concentriccircles each having a different radius from the center axis 906.

The photo-chromic disk 902 may be rotatably coupled to the drawing table900 at an axis 906 around which it can rotate as indicated by thearrows. The photo-chromic disk 902 may be spun by hand or an electricmotor may be used to spin the disk. The electric motor may be coupled tothe center axis to spin the disk. Alternatively, the electric motor maycouple to the disk through two or more gears or a belt and a pair ofpulleys.

Referring now to FIG. 9B, a light pen 110 is used to activate therotating photo-chromic disk 902 of FIG. 9A. The activating lightactivates the photo-chromic ink 904′ in varying shapes and colorsdepending upon how the light pen 110 is moved over the spinning disk902. As the disk 902 spins on the desktop 900, a child applies anactivating light with a light pen 110 to activate the colors in thespinning disk. The rings or concentric circles of photo-chromic materialor portions thereof will appear in response to the activating light.

Referring now to FIG. 9C, in another embodiment of the invention, thedrawing table 900 may include a spindle 910 at the center 906 of thedisk 902. Photo-chromic toys 100′ may include a spindle opening 912 toreceive the spindle 910. The photo-chromic toy may be placed over thespindle 910 and rotated with the disk 910 around the drawing table 900so that it may be painted in activation light as it rotates.

Light Activating Apparatus

Referring now to FIG. 10A, a double ended light pen 1010 is illustratedto generate different patterns of activation light at each end. Thelight pen 1010 includes a first UV LED 112A at a first end and a secondUV LED 112B at a second end opposite the first. Without additionaloptics, the first UV LED 112A can generate a wide angle spray ofactivation light 1001 around an optical axis 1002A to provide a sprayeffect over a photo-chromic toy. The wide angle spray of activationlight 1001 is particularly use full with templates or stencils aspreviously described. The second UV LED 112B has optics within itsoptical axis 1002 so that a point source of activation light 1004 can begenerated at a focal point F distance away from the LED 112B along theoptical axis. The point source of activation light 1004 is particularlyuse full in doodling or scribbling letters and words on a photo-chromictoy.

The light pen further includes batteries 116 as a power source with apair of switches 114A-114B mounted in the housing coupled between thebatteries and the respective LEDs 112A-112B. The switch 114A switchespower ON and OFF to the LED 112A. The switch 114B switches power ON andOFF to the LED 112B. A variety of types of switches may be used forswitching the activation light on and off in the light pens. In oneembodiment of the invention, the switches are momentary push buttonswitches. A user presses and holds a button of the momentary push buttonswitch to turn ON the activation light.

Referring now FIG. 10B, a magnified cross-sectional view of the end ofthe light pen with the second UV LED 112B is illustrated. FIG. 10Billustrates exemplary optics that may be used to generate a point sourceof activation light. The light pen 1010 includes a hemispherical opening1012 in the end of the housing 111 to receive a ball lens 1014. A cap1016 is fitted over cylindrical shoulder portion 1018 of the end of thehousing to retain the ball lens 1014 within the opening 1012. The cap1016 includes an opening 1017 concentric with the optical axis 1002Bthat allows a portion of the ball lens 1014 to protrude through and rollwithin the hemispherical opening 1012. Thus, the ball lens 1014 may alsobe referred to as a rollable ball lens. The cap 1016 may be glued to theportion 1018. Alternatively, the cap 1016 may be friction fitted to theportion 1018. In yet another embodiment, the cap 1016 may include aninner ring-like ridge 1019 that couples into a ring-like recess 1119 inthe shoulder portion 1018 of the housing.

As discussed previously, the rollable ball lens 1014 can roll within thehemispherical opening 1012 so that it is rotatably coupled to thehousing 111 as is illustrated by the arrows. With the light focused to apoint, the ball lens 1014 can be pressed up against a photo-chromicsurface such as found in a photo-chromic toy 100 or a photo-chromic page800A and roll across its surface, activating the photo-chromic materialtherein over a narrow region. The rollable ball lens 1014 reduces thefriction that the light pen might otherwise face if it was pressedagainst and moved across a page. That is, the light pen 1010 with itsrollable ball lens 1014 can move like a roller ink pen across the page800A

Referring now to FIG. 11A, a set of N light pens 1110 aligned inparallel together in a row within a case 1102 is illustrated. Each ofthe N light pens 1110A-1110N in the set can provide a range of linewidths in the output activation light to vary the area of activation ofphoto-chromic material. Light pen 1110A may provide a narrow line widthoutput while light pen 1110N may provide a wide line width output. Inother embodiments, the set of light pens may each provide a differentstencil design or different diameters of a point source of light.

FIG. 11B illustrates exemplary line widths in activation light 118A-118Nthat may be provided by the respective light pens 1110A-1110N of the set1110 illustrated in FIG. 11A.

FIG. 11C illustrates exemplary openings or slits 1111A-1111N in therespective nozzles 1112A-1112N at the end of each respective light pen1110A-1110N to generate the light patterns of line widths illustrated inFIG. 11B.

Referring now to FIG. 12A, a bottom view of a light wand 1210 isillustrated. The light wand 1210 includes a plurality of N activatinglight sources 112A-112N aligned in parallel together within a row. Thelight sources 112A-112N are mounted into a head 1215 of the housing 111.In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the light sources 112A-112Nare UV LEDs. The light wand 1210 with its multiple light sources mayactivate photo-chromic material in such as way to generate a ‘wipe’effect over a photo-chromic page 800A.

The light wand further includes a handle 1216 coupled to the head 1215having a switch 114 to turn ON and OFF the activation light generated bythe light sources 112A-112N. The handle may further include one or morebatteries 116 that couple power to the switch 114.

The light wand 1210 may further include a female plug 1217 to receive amale plug 1218 of a cable 1219 to couple to a battery eliminator 1220.The female plug 1217 can switch out the batteries 116 when the male plug1218 is coupled therein and couple the battery eliminator 1220 to theswitch 114. The battery eliminator 1220 plugs into an AC power outletand may be an AC-to-DC transformer.

FIG. 12B illustrates a side view of the light wand 1210 of FIG. 12Abeing used over a photo-chromic page 800A. The light wand 1210 canactivate a wide stripe 1204′ of photo-chromic material with one swipe asillustrated. The light wand may readily be used with a stencil ortemplate 120 that can cover the whole page. A couple of swipes of thelight wand over the page 800A and the openings 124 in the stencil 120can quickly be used to activate the underlying photo-chromic material onthe page. That is, the light wand with the multiple light sources in arow to creates more light so that bigger templates may be used to wipeacross the template.

Referring now to FIG. 13, a top view of a light brush 1310 isillustrated. The light brush includes a plurality of light pipe or fiberoptic bristles 1312 at one end. The distal end of each of the fiberoptic bristles 1312 can separately output an activation light beam at adifferent point in space and on the photo-chromic toy 100 orphoto-chromic page 800A. The parallel tracks of activated photo-chromicmaterial 104′ on page 800A illustrated in FIG. 13 shows the activatedphoto-chromic pattern that fiber optic bristles 1312 of the light-brush1310 can make.

The light brush 1310 further includes one or more batteries 116, thelight switch, and one or more UV LEDs 112 mounted in the housing 111.The housing 111 may include a replaceable cap 1313 to hold the batteries116 within the housing and allow them to be replaced. In anotherembodiment of the invention, the batteries 116 may be rechargeable andthe housing may include a charger connector 1316 to recharge thebatteries through a battery charger 1320 with AC terminals 1322 to pluginto an AC power outlet. Other embodiments of the invention may includerechargeable batteries with a plug to be charged through a batterycharger.

The proximal end of the fiber optic bristles 1312 are optically coupledto the one or more LEDs 112 to receive the activation light. Thebristles 1312 are used to direct the activation light to desirablepoints at the distal end thereof.

Referring now to FIG. 14A, a side view of a light spray can 1410 isillustrated. The light spray can 1410 includes a hollow housing 111′shaped like a hand-held spray paint can. The spray can 1410 furtherincludes a spray-like nozzle 1414 that functions as the button of thelight switch 114 and the point of light spray. The spray can 1410further includes one or more UV LEDs 112 to generate the activatinglight for photo-chromic material. One or more light pipes 1416 extendfrom the optical output of the LEDs 112 to the nozzle 1414 in oneembodiment of the invention. The spray can 1410 includes one or morebatteries 116 to power the LEDs ON in response to the nozzle beingpushed down and momentarily activating the electrical switch 114 toclose the circuit. The LEDs are turned OFF in response to the pressureon the nozzle being released and the switch 114 being returned to an OFFposition and open circuit condition. A spring 1418 may assist to returnthe nozzle to the OFF position.

The activating light 118 may be sprayed out by the one or more lightpipes 1416 onto the photo-chromic toy 100 or photo-chromic page 800A.The spray can forms a spray-like activated photo-chromic pattern 1404′in the photo-chromic material 104. The light spray can 1410 provides aspray effect to “paint” with light. While the light spray can is shapedlike a spray can, the housing 111′ may have other shapes with a nozzlehaving other shapes and acting as a push button for the switch.

Referring now to FIG. 14B, a magnified cross-sectional view of anembodiment of the nozzle 1414 for the light spray can 1410 isillustrated. The nozzle 1414 in one embodiment of the invention includesa distal end of one or more light pipes 1416 that extend from one ormore UV LEDs 112 at a proximal end. The light pipes may be curved tooutput the activating light at a side of the nozzle. The nozzle 1414further includes a shoulder or tab 1415 to couple the switch 114 andmechanically activate when the nozzle is depressed and released. Thespring 1418 may coupled to the shoulder 1415 of the nozzle at one end topush back out on the nozzle when released and turn off the switch 114.

Referring now to FIG. 14C, a magnified cross-sectional view of anotherembodiment of the nozzle 1414′ for the light spray can 1410 isillustrated. The nozzle 1414′ in this embodiment of the inventionincludes the one or more LEDs 112 mounted and optics 1420 mountedtherein. The optics 1420 are optically coupled to the optical output ofthe LEDs along the optical axis of each. The optics 1420 convert theactive light generated by the LEDs into a spray effect. The optics 1420may be a combination of one or more lenses and/or one or more lightfilters or masks. The nozzle 1414′ does away with the one or more lightpipes 1416. The nozzle 1414 further includes the shoulder or tab 1415 tocouple the switch 114 and mechanically activate when the nozzle isdepressed and released. The spring 1418 may also be coupled to theshoulder 1415 of the nozzle at one end to push back out on the nozzlewhen released and turn off the switch 114.

Referring now to FIG. 15, a hand held flash activator 1510 isillustrated. Instead of using LEDs, the flash activator 1510 uses aflash bulb 1502 to more quickly and energetically generate an activationlight. The flash bulb 1502 is selected to generate light with awavelength concentrated (e.g., purple, violet, UV) in the range ofactivation light previously described. The activation light generated bythe flash bulb 1502 is stronger than that generated by UV LEDs. Theflash activator 1510 further includes a concave reflector 1504 mountedin the housing 111 to reflect the back light rays outward from the flashbulb 1502. The diameter of the concave reflector 1504 may be as large asthe housing 111 as illustrated by reflector 1504′ in dashed lines.

The flash activator 1510 includes the flash bulb 1502, one or morebatteries 116, an ON/OFF sliding switch 1522, a charge circuit 1520,energy storage device 1521, and a momentary switch 114 coupled togetheras shown and mounted within a housing 111. The one or more batteries 116may be rechargeable. The ON/OFF sliding switch 1522 may be activated bya sliding button 1514 extending out from the housing 111. The flashswitch 114 is activated by a push button 1524 extending from the housing111.

A user slides the slider 1514 to slide the switch 1522 to an ON state.The power from the batteries 116 is then supplied to the charge circuit1520. The charge circuit charges up an energy storage device 1521, suchas a capacitor, which is also coupled to the flash switch 114. Theactivator 1510 may include a visible light LED 1523 to indicate to auser when the charge circuit has completed charging of the energystorage device 1521. Then, a user can push on the push-button 1524 toactivate the flash switch 114. The flash switch 114 couples the chargestored on the energy storage device into the flash bulb 1502 causing itto generate electromagnetic radiation, light or photons having thedesired wavelength to activate photo-chromic materials.

Referring now to FIG. 16A, an electronic light stencil 1610 isillustrated. The electronic light stencil 1610 is used to activate anarea 104′ of photo-chromic material on a photo-chromic page 800A. Theelectronic light stencil 1610 includes a transflective liquid crystaldisplay (LCD) screen 1518 mounted in a light housing 1611 to generate anelectronic stencil. Inner surfaces of the light housing 1611 may becoated with a reflective material to reflect the backlighting from a UVbacklight 1612 into the LCD screen 1618.

The electronic light stencil 1610 further includes the light switch 114,one or more batteries 116, memory 1616, reverse button 1614R, forwardbutton 1614F, and the UV backlight 1612 mounted in a first housing 111.The memory 1516 provides storage for various electronic templates orstencils that are displayed on the LCD screen 1618. The electronic lightstencil 1610 further includes row and column LCD drivers 1620 mounted inthe light housing 1611 to drive the LCD screen 1618 to generate theelectronic stencil in response to the stencil data of the memory 1516.

Because the LCD screen 1618 is transflective, a user can look into theLCD screen to preview line art pictures (in reverse or negative imageformat) that can be used as a stencil. The forward button 1614F and thereverse button 1614R may be used to move forward and backward throughthe stencils that are stored in the memory 1616. Once a stencil has beenselected, the electronic light stencil 1610 is placed on orsubstantially close to the surface of the photo-chromic page 800A.

The light switch 114 is then pressed and the back light 1612 is turnedON to generate the activating light 118 that is shined into the LCDscreen 1618. The stencil image displayed by the LCD screen 1618 masksout the incident activating light 118 into a stencil patternedactivating light 118′. The transparent portions in the LCD screen 1618displaying the stencil image allow the incident activating light 118 topass through. The dark or opaque portions of the stencil image deter theincident activating light 118 from passing through. When an activatinglight is used to shine through the stencil image, photo-chromic material104 on the substrate 102 is exposed photochromically within an areacorresponding to the transparent portions of the stencil image.

The stencil patterned activating light 118′ output by the electroniclight stencil 1610 is used to activate a portion of the photo-chromicmaterial 104 as an activated photo-chromic area 104′. The activatedphoto-chromic area 104′ may change for differing electronic stencils.

While the electronic light stencil 1610 is described as being hand held,it may be also mounted to a structure to be supported as an overheadlight source. Instead of using an electronic stencil, a physicalreplaceable stencil may be used instead in an alternate embodiment ofthe invention.

Referring now to FIG. 16B, a stencil light 1610′ is illustrated over aphoto-chromic page 800A. The stencil light 1610′ includes a housing1611′ that receives one of a set of physical stencils 1650 instead ofgenerating a stencil image with an LCD screen. The stencil light furtherincludes one or more batteries 116, the light switch 114, and one ormore activating light sources 1612′. The activating light sources 1612′may be one or more UV LEDs. The stencil housing 1611 may be coated onthe inside with a reflector to reflect the activating light from thelight sources 1612′ to the stencil 1628 that is mounted in the housing.

The stencils 1628 of the set of stencils 1650 are each similarly sizedto slide into and out of the stencil housing 1611′. As illustrated inFIG. 16C, the stencil housing 1611′ further includes a pair of guiderails 1652 to slideably hold the stencil 1628 in place.

Referring now to FIG. 17A, a photo-chromic activation box 1700A isillustrated. The activation box 1700A includes a activating lamp 1710Amounted to a top 1701 in aligned with an opening 1706 therein so thatthe activating light 118 may shine down onto the photo-chromic page800B,800D and activate the design 104′. The activation box 1700A furtherincludes sides 1702A-1702C with one open side 1704, and a bottom 1703 tohold the photo-chromic page. A user can view the activated design 104′through the open side 1704. Alternatively or additionally, the sides1702A-1702C and the top 170 may be transparent so that a user can viewthe activated design 104′ from the top as well any side.

The activating lamp 1710A may include one or more batteries 116, thelight switch 114, and a activating light source 112 to generate theactivating light 118. The light source 112 may be an activating lightbulb or UV LEDs.

Referring now to FIG. 17B, an open overhead light table 1700B isillustrated. The light table 1700B includes an activating spot light1710B, a support arm 1714, and a base 1712 coupled together as shown.The activating spot light 1710B is coupled to one end of the support arm1714. An opposite end of the support arm 1714 is coupled to the base1712. The support arm 1714 may be rigidly fixed in place or flexible toallow the spot light 1710B to be repositioned over the base 1712. Thebase 1712 provides a support surface within an activity area 1713 tosupport the photo-chromic page 800B,800D aligned in place with the spotlight 1710B. In this manner, the overhead spotlight 1710B may shine anactivating light 118 down onto the photo-chromic page within theactivity area 1713 so that the design therein can be activated andvisualized by a user.

The support arm 1714 is hollow to allow a power cable 1716 to couplebetween the activating light source and the light switch 114.

The activating spot light 1710B includes an activating light source 112to generate the activating light 118. In one embodiment of theinvention, the light source 112 is an activating light bulb thatcontinuously generates the activating light 118 while power is suppliedthrough the switch 114. The light bulb may be an AC light bulb, in whichcase, the plug 1730 plugs into an AC outlet to couple AC power to theswitch and the light bulb. For example, the light bulb may be a violetlight bulb, or a black light bulb as it may be more commonly referred.In another embodiment of the invention, the activating light source 112is one or more UV LEDs. In this case, the plug 1730 is a power adapterto adapt AC power at an outlet into DC power for coupling to the UV LEDs112.

While certain exemplary embodiments have been described and shown in theaccompanying drawings, it is to be understood that such embodiments aremerely illustrative of and not restrictive on the broad invention, andthat the embodiments of the invention not be limited to the specificconstructions and arrangements shown and described, since various othermodifications may occur to those ordinarily skilled in the art. Ratherthe embodiments of the invention should be construed according to theclaims that follow below.

1. A photo-chromic doll playset comprising: a doll having a substrate; aphoto-chromic material applied to the substrate; a light pen toselectively apply a tightly focused activating light output on thephoto-chromic material to create narrow lines of activated photo-chromicmaterial; and wherein the activated photo-chromic material temporarilytransforms from a first color to a second color for a period of timebefore gradually decaying back to the first color.
 2. The photo-chromicdoll playset of claim 1, wherein the substrate is doll clothing, and thephoto-chromic material is applied onto the doll clothing.
 3. Thephoto-chromic doll playset of claim 1, wherein the substrate is a bodyportion of the doll, and the photo-chromic material is applied to thebody portion of the doll.
 4. The photo-chromic doll playset of claim 3,wherein the body portion of the doll are lips to create an effect ofapplying lipstick when the photo-chromic material is activated, or thebody portion of the doll are cheeks to create an effect of blushing whenthe photo-chromic material is activated.
 5. The photo-chromic dollplayset of claim 3, wherein the photo-chromic material is patterned intoa mark or tattoo applied onto the body portion of the doll.
 6. Thephoto-chromic doll playset of claim 1, further comprising: a template orstencil having a pattern of a mark or tattoo, the template or stencil tomask the activating light and to activate a portion of the photo-chromicmaterial corresponding to the pattern of the mark or tattoo.
 7. Aphoto-chromic toy vehicle play set comprising: a toy vehicle having aphoto-chromic material portion; a stencil including opaque areas andtransparent or open areas forming a pattern, the stencil to align withand be placed next to the photo-chromic material portion of the toyvehicle; and a light pen to selectively shine an activating light overthe stencil to activate the pattern in the photo-chromic materialportion of the toy vehicle.
 8. The photo-chromic toy vehicle play set ofclaim 7, wherein the opaque areas of the stencil to block the activatinglight from the photo-chromic material portion, and the transparent oropen areas of the stencil to allow the activating light to pass throughthe stencil to the photo-chromic material portion of the toy vehicle. 9.The photo-chromic toy vehicle play set of claim 8, wherein thetransparent or open areas of the stencil pattern activate a pattern of adesign or a word in the photo-chromic material portion of the toyvehicle.
 10. The photo-chromic toy vehicle play set of claim 8, whereinthe light pen is ornamentally shaped as a spray paint gun or a car washgun.
 11. The photo-chromic toy vehicle play set of claim 7, wherein thelight pen includes a finger trigger switch, the light pen to generatethe activating light in response to the finger trigger switch beingpressed.
 12. The photo-chromic toy vehicle play set of claim 7, furthercomprising: a hollow light box having an opening to insert thephoto-chromic toy vehicle therein, a power source, a switch coupled tothe power source, and an ultraviolet light bulb coupled to the switch,the ultraviolet light bulb to generate the activating light within thehollow light box in response to turning ON the switch.
 13. Thephoto-chromic toy vehicle play set of claim 12, wherein the hollow lightbox is decorated to depict a paint booth or a car wash.
 14. Aphoto-chromic activation light projector comprising: a base to support aphoto-chromic object; an activating lamp to generate an activating lightto activate a photo-chromic material on the photo-chromic object; asupport structure coupled between the base and the activating lamp, thesupport structure to support the activating lamp over the base to shinethe activating light onto the photo-chromic object; and wherein theactivated photo-chromic material is temporarily transformed by theactivating light to display a design in a first color on thephoto-chromic object for a period of time before gradually decaying backto a second color.
 15. The photo-chromic activation light projector ofclaim 14, wherein the photo-chromic object is a photo-chromic page. 16.The photo-chromic activation light projector of claim 14, wherein thesupport structure is a hollow box including three sides walls, a topside, and an open side through which the photo-chromic object may beinserted, the activating lamp mounted to the top side, the top sideincluding an opening through which the activating light may shine downinto the hollow box and activate the photo-chromic material of thephoto-chromic object.
 17. The photo-chromic activation light projectorof claim 16, wherein the three sides walls and the top side aretransparent to allow the user to view the photo-chromic object.
 18. Thephoto-chromic activation light projector of claim 12, wherein theactivating lamp includes one or more batteries, a light switch, and aultra-violet light emitting diode (UVLED) coupled together to generatethe activating light.
 19. The photo-chromic activation light projectorof claim 12, wherein the support structure is a supporting arm having afirst end coupled to the base and a second end coupled to the activatinglamp.
 20. The photo-chromic activation light projector of claim 19,wherein the activating lamp is an ultraviolet spotlight to generate theactivating light, and the base holds the photo-chromic object within anactivity area.
 21. The photo-chromic activation light projector of claim20, wherein the activating light is continuously generated by anultra-violet light bulb in the activating lamp while power is suppliedthrough the light switch.
 22. The photo-chromic activation lightprojector of claim 14, wherein the activating lamp includes one or moreultraviolet light emitting diodes (UVLEDs) to generate the activatinglight, and the photo-chromic activation light projector furthercomprises an AC to DC power converter coupled to the one or more UVLEDs,the AC to DC power converter to convert AC power from an outlet into DCpower for the one or more UVLEDs.
 23. A method comprising: providing ahollow light box having an opening to insert a toy vehicle therein, thetoy vehicle including one or more portions of photo-chromic material;inserting the toy vehicle into the hollow light box; turning ON a switchcoupled between a power source and an activating lamp; generating anactivating light in response to turning ON the switch, the activatinglight flooding the inside of the hollow light box; and activating theone or more portions of photo-chromic material on the toy vehicle,wherein the photo-chromic material temporarily transforms from a firstcolor to a second color for a period of time before gradually decayingback to the first color.
 24. The method of claim 23, further comprising:prior to activating, applying a stencil to the toy vehicle, the stencilhaving open areas to form an activated pattern in the one or moreportions of the photo-chromic material on the toy vehicle.